Flatwork ironing machine



Sept; 22, 1953 E: J. HQWLETT 2,652,644

FLATWORK IRONING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheef 1 EDWARD TOHN HOWLETT HIV 1% ZAMGQQ-u M V 6 Q sept- 1953 J. HOWLETT 2,652,644

FLATWORK IRONING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor EDWARD Homsrr Sept. 22, 1953 E, ow 2,652,644

FLATWORK IRONING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor sowmo 2mm Hau/LETr Sept. 22, 1953 E. J. HOWLETT 2,652,644

FLATWORK IRONING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor EDWARD Form HDWLETT' Patented Sept. 22, 1953 Edward John Howlett, Edgware, England, as-

signor to Isaac Braithwaite & Son Engineers Limited, Kendal, England, a body corporate of Great Britain Application March 3, 1949, Serial No. 79,335 In Great Britain April 7 1948 9 Claims.

This invention relates'to improvements in flatwork ironing machines of the type in which the work passes between a roller and a curved bed, the bed being formed of two arcuate sections, or two series of arcuate sections embracing about 180 of the periphery of the roller, each section or each series of sections being pivotally mounted so that they can be moved to and from the roller surface for the purpose of applying the necessary pressure between the roller and the bed when the machine i in operation and to be moved from the roller when the machine is inoperative.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide means for operating the sections or series of sections so that both sections or both series of sections will be applied with a predetermined pressure ratio to the periphery of the roller, and to so arrange and operate the sections that distortion of the bed is obviated or reduced to a minimum thereby making it possible to employ a long roller without the pressure between it and the bed differing at different parts of its length.

Other objects of the-invention reside in operating the sections in such a way that whenthe machine is inoperative the sections will fall away from the roller and in an improved construction of the roller.

According to the present invention, the pairof sections or each pair of sections of thebed are supported by balanced interconnected linkage systems controlled from a common source of power whereby the sections will apply equal pressure or pressure at a predetermined ratio to the roller and when the operating power is removed will automatically fall away from contact with the roller.

1, The invention is illustrated in and will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

, Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the machine showing the sections in their operative positions;

- Fig. 2 is a similar end elevation, with the frame of the machine removed, showing the sections moved away from the roller,

Fig. 3 is a part front elevation of the machine showing three sections forming one part of the bed; 7

Fig. 4' is an elevation of one of the sections;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section thereof;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the roller, and

Fig. 7 is a section on line l! of Fig. 6.

The frame of the machine comprises two end members A. of substantially triangular shape connected by two longitudinal members A preferably in the form of angle irons, and a series of transverse members A also preferably in the form of angle irons. j

The transverse members A form supports 0 a stationary longitudinal rod B extending longitudinally from end to end of the machine and the end frames A carry the bearings c for the shaft C of the roller C, which iscapable of rotation but is stationary in respect of its axis. I

The axis of the rod B is vertically below the axis of the roller C and the linkages which carry and apply pressure to the sections'of the bed are pivotally mounted on the rod B so that the rod B and the bearings c for the shaft C of the roller C form stationary supports which receive the load applied to the machine.

The bed is formed of two serie of trough like sections D and D one series being on one side of the vertical longitudinal centre line of the machine and the other series on the opposite side thereof. Each section D is formed with a curved surface d corresponding to the cylindrical surface of the roller C and extending over rather more than 90 so that when the sections are in contact with the surface of the roller they embrace rather more than 180 thereof.

Each section D is in the form of a steam chest to which steam is supplied by flexible tubing through the inlet d and exhausted through the outlet d 7 A series of ribs 1 or other means are cast with the chest to strengthen it.

The adjacent ends of the sections D of each series are formed with serrations or teeth d 'engaging each other as shown in Fig. 3.

The sections are controlled in pairs, one from the-series D and the other from the series D The section D is pivotally mounted on one end of a link 6 the other end of which is pivotally mounted on the fixed bar B and the section'D is pivotally mounted on one end of a corresponding link e the other end of which is also pivotally mounted on the bar B.

Two further links 1 and f are pivotally mounted on the same pivot points on the sections D and D as the links e and e and are connected together by a tie bar F one end of which is pivotally mounted on the link I and the other on the link F, the pivot points being approximately mid-way along the links.

Since the piston rod G and cylinder G are not fixed they are free to move in relation to each other thus when the piston and piston rod G move inwards towards the longitudinal centre of the machine the cylinder G2 will also move inwards toward the said longitudinal centre i. e. in tha opposite direction to th piston and piston ro The cylinder G is connected to a. source of steam or other fluid under pressure and when the supply is cut oil and the cylinder =open to atmosphere the weight of the sections D .and D will cause them to fall away from the roller C in arcuate paths determined by the length of the links e and c these links being equal in length, and since the links j and f are connected by the tie bar F the two sections will move in unison. The consequent movement of the lower ends of the links f and F Will cause the piston rod G and the cylinder G to move inwards towards the longitudinal centre of the machine until the piston has come to the end of its inward stroke when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2.

9n the application of pressure to the cylinder G the piston rod G and the cylinder G move outwards causing the sections D and D to be moved along the same arcuate paths but in the opposite directions until they come into contact with and are pressed against the surface of the roller C, which pressure contact is retained until the pressure is released from the cylinder G If the pivots on which the .sections of each pair D and D are mounted on the links f and flare-centrally disposed between the upper and lower edges of the sections as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the surface of the section will be pressed on to the .roller C with a substantially uniform pressure over the whole of its area but by varying the position of the pivots on the sectionsapredetermined pressure ratio can be ob tained between the upper and lower edges.

Moreover if the ends of the tiebar F are connected as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the links f andff at the samerelative positions between the ends of the links the pressure of both sections on the roller C will be the same but by varying therelative positions of the ends of the tiebar F onthe=respectivelinks therelative pressure of the-sections on the roller can be varied.

As will be seen from Fig. 3 the linkage systems e and f and e and f are duplicated .at .each side of thecylinder thereby preventing any tendency of the linkage to sway.

'As is shown inFig. 3 each pair .of sections D and 'D? of thebed is supportedas hereinbefore described-by links e and e and'controlled by linksf and f -froma piston G and cylinder G there being as many pistons :and cylinders as there are pairs of sectors and all the cylinders are supplied simultaneously with steam or other pressure fluid at the same pressure so that they will operate-in unison.

The abutting edges (1 of each pair of sections D and D may be vprovided withintermeshing teeth which when engaging each other leave a small'gapthrough which moisture from the work canbe withdrawn by the application of suction tothe space formed by thetwo recesses d at the lower ends of thesections.

shown in Figs. 6 and '7 the roller Cris built up from a'series of sections C pre'ferably,'though not necessarily, equal in number and length to the sections D or "D forming the bed. .Each section 0 is .carried'bytwo sets of arms H and H radiating from a hub I-I afiixed on the roller shaft 0 mounted in the bearings c at each end of the machine. The ends of the rollers are closed by end discs C The roller C is heated by longitudinal steam pipes .K carried by hollow spokes k at each end .of the roller, each pipe being ,provided'with an interior helix k which ensures movement of the steam along the pipe as the roller rotates.

Each end of the roller shaft c is formed with an axial passage 0 which is connected to the passages in the spokes Ic, steam being supplied at the inlet endIL and exhausted at the other end L The hollow spokes k are preferably made in two parts connected by a union k for ease of assembly and the spokes at the inlet end are each provided with a check valve k :Steam is supplied to the passage 0 at the inlet end in any suitable known way for supplying steam to a hollow rotating shaft and is similarly exhausted from the passage 0 at the exhaust end. v v. The abutting endsof the sections C are pref-- erably for-med with spigot ends as shown .at .0 and the sections are pulled together by nuts h actingon the end hubs H. j

The periphery of the roller C is perforated as shown in Fig. 6 and is surrounded by a layerof wire mesh M over which the usual blanket covering is laid. I

Moisture from the work may thus bedrawn into the roller by the application of suction to its interior such as through the stationary housing N surrounding the shaft C at the end L of the roller and in contact with the end disc C through which apertures are formed. The housing .N is connected by a duct 11, to a suitable exhausting means. v

The roller C can be driven in any usual way and the feeding and delivering of the work .to and from the roller can also be conventional, the sections D and D being provided with curved extensions 11'' at the feed-and delivery edges.

The invention is not limited to the specific form illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings .and other structural forms-and equivalent of the various parts can be substituted without departing from the invention.

.1 claim:

1. A fiatwork ironing machine including in combination with a rotatable ironing roller, a set of 'pairs of opposed arcuate hollow members located below the roller, each arcuate member extending over substantially and said set of pairs of arcuate members together forming a curved bed which in closed position envelopes substantially -a portion of the periphery of the roller constituting the lower half thereof, each arcuate hollow member containing asteam chest; operable means connected externally to the intermediate portions of each opposed "pair of arcuate hollow-members for separately mountingandrockably supporting the latter for upward and inward movementto-ward the-roller and out-' ward and. downward movementtherefrom, the force ofgravity-urging said arcuatehollowmem-- bers to fall outwardly and downward away from the holler; means supplying said steam chests with heated steam; and operating 'means 'for bringingeach pairlof said arcuate members .upwardly inward together-and toward said roller against the action .of the. force of gravity andindependently of the other pairs .of arcuate mem bers.

2. In a flatwork ironing machine as in claim 1, the combination with the set of pairs of arcuate members forming the bed of the machine of a central shaft, a set of arms radiating therefrom and a set of annular sections carried on the ends of said arms and forming the peripheral surface of said roller.

3. In a flatwork ironing machine as in claim 1, the combination with the set of pairs of arcuate members forming the bed of the machine of a central shaft, a set of arms radiating therefrom, a set of annular sections carried on the ends of said arms and forming the peripheral surface of said roller and longitudinal steam pipes located between said shaft and the peripheral surface of said roller.

4. In a fiatwork ironing machine as in claim 1, the combination with the set of pairs of arcuate members forming the bed of the machine of a roller comprising a central shaft, a set of arms radiating therefrom, a set of annular sections carried on the ends of said arms and forming the peripheral surface of said roller, longitudinal steam pipes located between said shaft and the peripheral surface of said roller and hollow radial spokes at each end of said roller, said spokes being connected to and supporting said longitudinal steam pipes and also connected to axial passages in the ends of the shaft for the passage of steam to and from the steam pipes.

5. In a flatwork ironing machine as in claim 1, the combination with the set of pairs'of arcuate members forming the bed of the machine of a central shaft, a set of arms radiating therefrom, a set of annular sections carried on the ends of said arms and forming the peripheral surface of said roller, longitudinal steam pipes located between said shaft and the peripheral surface of said roller, hollow radial spokes at each end of said roller, said spokes being connected to and supporting said longitudinal steam pipes and also connected to axial passages in the ends of the shaft for the passage of steam to and from said steam pipes, and a longitudinal helix within each steam pipe to ensure movement of the steam along said pipe as said roller rotates.

6. A fiatwork ironing machine including in combination with a rotatable ironing roller, of at least one pair of arcuate members located below the roller, each arcuate member extending over substantially 90, and said pair of arcuate members together forming a curved bed which in closed position envelopes substantially a 180 portion of the periphery of the roller constituting the lower half thereof; a supporting shaft extending parallel to and in the same verticalplane as the axis of the roller, and below said arcuate members; a pair of supporting links extending outwardly upward and pivotally connected at the upper outer ends thereof to the external intermediate portions of said pair of arcuate members and pivotally connected at the inner lower ends thereof to said supporting shaft and rockably supporting said pair of arcuate members for upward and inward movement toward the roller and outward and downward movement therefrom, the force of gravity urging said pair of arcuate members to fall outwardly and downward away from the roller; a pair of levers pivotally connected at one end of each to the external intermediate portions of said pair of arcuate members; elastic fluid operated means disposed below said roller and pivotally connected to the other ends of said pair of levers for operating the latter and, a rigid elongated member pivotally attached at its ends to and interconnecting the intermediate portions of said pair of levers; and

means for bringing said pair of arcuate members upwardly inward together and toward said roller, against the action of the force of gravity.

7. A fiatwork ironing machine including in combination with a rotatable ironing roller, a set of pairs of opposed arcuate hollow members located below the roller, each arcuate member extending over substantially and said set of pairs of arcuate members together forming a curved bed which in closed position envelopes substantially a portion of the periphery of the roller constituting the lower half thereof, each arcuate hollow member containing a steam chest; means for supplying heated steam to each steam chest; means for separately mounting and rockably supporting each opposed pair of arcuate members comprising a pair of corresponding links for each pair of arcuate members pivotally interconnected below said roller and said arcuate members and extending upwardly outward with the upper ends thereof pivotally connected to the intermediate external portions of the corresponding pair of arcuate members, the force of gravity urging said arcuate members to fall outwardly and downward away from the roller; a pair of levers for each pair of arcuate members also pivotally connected at the upper pair of ends thereof to the external intermediate portions of the corresponding pair of arcuate members; a rigid elongated member pivotally connected at the ends thereof to the intermediate portions of each pair of said levers to provide fulcrums therefor; and means for bringing both of said arcuate members upwardly inward. toward said roller comprising elastic fluid operated means disposed below said roller and pivotally connected to the other ends of each pair of levers, against the action of the force of gravity.

8. A flatwork ironing machine acording to claim 6 wherein each arcuate member is provided with serrations at its ends, the serrations of each arcuate member intermeshing with the serrations of the adjacent arcuate members.

9. A flatwork ironing machine according to claim 6 wherein each arcuate member is provided with serrations on its inner longitudinal edge which abuts in closed position of said pair of arcuate members against the corresponding edge of the other of the pair of arcuate members, the serrations on the inner longitudinal edges of said pair of arcuate members intermeshing when said pair of arcuate members are in pressing contact with the roller.

EDWARD JOHN HOWLETT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 437,091 Carr Sept. 23, 1890 445,723 Voelker Feb. 3, 1891 453,028 Voelker May 26, 1891 540,334 Poland June 4, 1895 628,242 Gessner July 4, 1899 643,189 Kreuter Feb. 13, 1900 2,169,672. West Aug. 15, 1939 2,334,629 James Nov. 16, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 469,712 Great Britain July 30, 1937 

